Knight Owl
Adorable owl befriends dragon in outstanding fantasy tale.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that author-illustrator Christopher Denise's Knight Owl tells the story of a cute little owl living in medieval times who accomplishes his goal of becoming a knight and finds a clever way to keep the castle safe from a giant, hungry dragon. This glorious picture book has wonderful art and a positive message about avoiding conflict by finding common ground with someone who's supposed to be your enemy. There's also gentle humor and subtle wordplay.
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What's the Story?
A fluffy owl's one wish is to become a knight. He goes to Knight School and graduates "with honor, as knights do." He's assigned to Knight Night Watch atop the castle and keeps his eyes out for danger. When a hungry dragon lands on the castle wall near him, the tiny KNIGHT OWL talks the giant dragon out of eating him by offering him a more substantial alternative -- pizza! Then he points out how much they have in common: They both hatched from eggs, can fly, and like the night. They become friends, and the castle is safe.
Is It Any Good?
This delightful story of courage and unlikely friendship has great art and an irresistible main character. Knight Owl creates a rich medieval setting filled with period details and a bit of wordplay (starting with the pun in the title). Big changes in perspective in the digital illustrations help build page-turning suspense. And the story as a whole, with its night sky and glowing fires, has the warm glow of a classic. It's an excellent read-aloud, while at the same time, the pictures help tell the story so well, it could almost work without the text. Knight Owl is truly a gem.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Parents can talk about the main character in Knight Owl. What makes him so appealing? Is it how he looks in the illustrations? Is it how he acts to solve his dragon problem? What makes you root for him?
Size doesn't seem to matter when it comes to being a knight in this story. Were you surprised that the Knight Owl had so much courage when facing a much bigger opponent? How did he use his brain to get out of trouble?
What's fun about stories that take place in the time of knights, castles, and dragons? Would you liked to have lived back then? What was harder then? Is there anything you think was better then?
Book Details
- Author: Christopher Denise
- Illustrator: Christopher Denise
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Great Boy Role Models
- Character Strengths: Communication, Courage, Perseverance
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
- Publication date: March 15, 2022
- Number of pages: 48
- Available on: Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: January 20, 2023
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